PERSPECTIVE: Time to Step Up; Ways to Help After Tornado
Date Posted: May 19, 2025
Posted In: Discussion, News, Projects,
by Tom Finan, Executive Director, Construction Forum
The City of St. Louis needs our industry’s help! Let’s show the world what we’re made of by helping with tornado recovery.
St. Louisans in general, the construction industry, and Mayor Cara Spencer’s administration in particular have been amazing in the last two days.
Friday’s events were personal for me: I live in the 5500 block of Waterman directly in the tornado’s path. Believe me that “devastation” doesn’t do justice to describing the situation Friday. My family and friends were not injured.
Our neighbors were immediately doing anything they could to help one another. As soon as first responders had cleared the streets, City officials were on the ground assessing the situation.
Over the weekend Mayor Spencer met with the leaders of some of our industry’s largest GCs and put out a call for time, people, and materials.
Mayor Spencer has issued a call for supplies in advance of storms expected today and tomorrow.
For information on ways to give or receive help go to the City’s tornado relief page.
The priority is getting the following supplies:
- Tools
- Plywood and two-by-fours
- Wood screws
- Tarps
- Exterior caulk & caulk guns
The City is asking for those supplies to be taken to one of the following four locations:
- The O’Fallon Park YMCA at 4343 West Florissant Ave.
- The Urban League headquarters at 1408 Kingshighway Blvd., Suite 108
- The Urban League at 3655 Page Blvd.
- 4 the Ville at 4144 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd.
The rebuilding begins now. Thank you!